Author | Lightnews

Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Aug 8

Incredible, thoroughly depressing piece. I wonder how JD Vance would spin the human toll of our absence in places like Sudan. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

The Most Nihilistic Conflict on Earth

Sudan’s devastating civil war shows what will replace the liberal order: anarchy and greed.

www.theatlantic.com

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Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · May 6

Wise use of the party's social media reach? Expanding the tent beyond 27% approval?

Democrats @democrats.org · May 6

Kamala Harris stuns at the Met Gala.

Vice President Kamala Harris dressed in a black and white gown for the 2025 Met Gala.

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Reposted by Paul Fain

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · Apr 11

Mortgage rates surge over 7% as tariffs hit bond market
www.cnbc.com/2025/04/11/m...

Mortgage rates surge over 7% as tariffs hit bond market

Mortgage rates surged over 7% to end the week, after massive volatility in bond markets surrounding President Donald Trump's tariff agenda.

www.cnbc.com

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Reposted by Paul Fain

Robert Kelchen @robertkelchen.com · Mar 12

The largest private employer in Baltimore just lost $800 million in federal contracts and grants. This recession is going to be a doozy.

Johns Hopkins Plans Staff Layoffs After $800 Million Grant Cuts

Local and international health research efforts are already winding down as the university braces for even more potential cuts.

www.wsj.com

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Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Feb 26

I'm opposed to people who demean the work of others, particularly when they know nothing about those jobs. It's wrong and lame -- end stop.

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Reposted by Paul Fain

Sarah Cohodes @cohodes.bsky.social · Feb 11

Some reporting from EdWeek h/t @weilanch.bsky.social www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump Admin. Suddenly Cancels Dozens of Education Department Contracts

The Trump administration abruptly terminated dozens of contracts financed by the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education.

www.edweek.org

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Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Feb 6

Thank you! We've been struggling with what to prioritize in our reporting. Has felt like the funding/agency cuts were the story the last couple weeks. But that means other coverage is on hold. Catch you soon.

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Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Feb 5

For folks pitching reporters, the news hole has shrunk for product announcements and other developments not related to the drama happening with the federal government.

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Reposted by Paul Fain

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · Jan 30

Howard Lutnick, Commerce sec nominee, said he needs to review final CHIPS awards and would not commit to honoring them. 20 firms have signed binding deals
From @mackhawk.bsky.social
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Lutnick Pledges Chips Act Review, Demurs on Honoring Contracts

President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the agency in charge of a $52 billion semiconductor subsidy program declined to give it unqualified support, raising questions about the disbursement of funds to ...

www.bloomberg.com

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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · Jan 29

🚨 BREAKING: OMB has just issued a memo *rescinding* the previous memo freezing all federal financial assistance programs.

Full text, per government source:

January 29, 2025
M-25-14
MEMORANDUM FOR HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
FROM: Matthew J. Vaeth, Acting Director, Office of Management and Budget Me
SUBJECT: Rescission of M-25-13
OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded. If you have questions about implementing the
President's Executive Orders, please contact your agency General Counsel.

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Reposted by Paul Fain

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · Jan 22

comments from one of the pardoned Jan 6ers who admitted to assaulting a police officer.
www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/c...

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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · Dec 31

TSMC Arizona chip plant still has 50% Taiwanese workers in the run-up to production 9to5mac.com/2024/12/30/t...

TSMC Arizona chip plant still has 50% Taiwanese workers as production nears

A full half of the jobs created by the first TSMC Arizona chip plant have been filled by workers from...

9to5mac.com

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Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Dec 20

Absolutely gutted by this news. My daughter cried when she heard it -- our communal space for her whole life. RIP Hellbender. Thanks for the memories and all you did for my old neighborhood. www.popville.com/2024/12/dc-h...

Confirmed: Hellbender Closing at the end of the week after 10 years. - PoPville

5788 2nd Street, NE via FB Update from Hellbender: "Dear PoPville, Have heard a rumor that Hellbender Brewing in NE may be closing soon; have you heard any whispers? I know no brewery is run perfectly...

www.popville.com

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Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Dec 13

Claude to me just now: "I aim to strike a balance between being thorough and concise." Right on, my AI pal. That's my goal as well, one I struggle with every day.

Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Dec 13

Indeed. But do they know as much about automation as he does?

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Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Dec 13

www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Trump sides with dockworkers preparing to strike over automation

As a potential port shutdown looms, the president-elect’s statement in support of the union is highly unusual for a Republican.

www.washingtonpost.com

Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Dec 13

Trump admin's emerging take on AI and automation: “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it," Trump said on social media. "The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers."

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Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Dec 11

Here's an example from earlier this year: theamericanvandal.substack.com/p/putting-th...

Putting The "If" In "Enrollment Cliff"

Academic administrators are being prescribed Ponzi austerity by consultants who work for EdTech investors to solve a hypothetical demographic "crisis" with unsettling racist dog whistles.

theamericanvandal.substack.com

Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Dec 11

Not seeing anything of late from the folks who said the enrollment cliff was BS -- a racist conspiracy created by ed tech, private equity, and consultants to sell things. Are people still making this argument? Looks like some of those posts have been deleted, not surprisingly.

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Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Dec 6

“We’ve basically had three years of a super-tight labor market,” Kelly said. “Productivity is just another word for no one left to hire.”
www.wsj.com/economy/u-s-...

U.S. Economy Is Doing What Few Others Are: Getting More Productive

Inflation and the labor market are both cooling, but a subtle force has powered strong U.S. economic growth nonetheless. Americans keep finding ways to get more done at work.

www.wsj.com

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Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Dec 5

Grotesque. And way more of an issue on here than I'd have thought/hoped.

Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Dec 4

This National Academies study on AI and the future of work seems kinda important. As with a similar report from Brookings, I don't get how this research is falling through cracks. Not seeing any coverage. www.nationalacademies.org/news/2024/11...

www.nationalacademies.org

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Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Nov 26

That's the WSJ editorial page on Linda Chavez-DeRemer's nomination for labor secretary.

workshift.org/federal-poli...

Labor Secretary Nomination Turns Heads on Both Sides of the Aisle

Also, legislation to update the federal workforce system has new legs, and Trump's nominee for Education Secretary backs apprenticeship and short-term Pell.

workshift.org

Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Nov 26

“Republicans can work with unions to improve workforce training and increase alternative education pathways like apprenticeships. But putting Ms. Chavez-DeRemer in charge of Labor will make labor bosses, not workers, more powerful again.”

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Paul Fain @paulfain.bsky.social · Nov 25

On Granville Road. I had no idea the chain had expanded out of TX.

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